Scouts prepare for food drive on March 26

For decades, Boy Scouts in Utah have made a difference in the lives of thousands by participating in the annual Scouting for Food Drive, one of the three largest statewide food drives held each year. On March 26, Boy Scouts statewide will again organize food pick up in their individual areas and take the donations to designated drop-off points. This food drive will be very important to the Carbon, Emery and Grand county food banks, these food banks serve Carbon, Emery and Grand county areas.

"Food drives provide Carbon, Emery and Grand county food banks with an extraordinary amount of non-perishable food," said Kathy Thomas, Coordinator of the Emery County Food Bank. "The small contributions of thousands of families really stock our shelves with items that last."

The number of people seeking assistance from the food bank continues to hover at above normal rates, serving around 670 families per month, about 260 more families each month than 2008.

"As we continue to serve hundreds of families, organized food drives become vital in our ability to provide assistance," said Collette Freestone, Program Manager for Carbon, Emery and Grand county food banks. "We recognize that when you're serving close to 1,418 individuals a month, you have to depend on the community. We can't do it alone. We need those people who can still give a little bit to do so. It really does add up."

In 2010, Boy Scouts provided Carbon, Emery and Grand county food banks with 14,499 pounds of food through the Scouting for Food Drive. Those donations allowed the agency to feed over 1,367 families. Food donations will start rolling into the local food banks, locations - Carbon - 75 East 400 South, Price. Emery - 40 South Center St. Castle Dale. Grand - 56 North 200 East, Moab, from 10 a.m. and continue until 2 p.m. Volunteers will be on site to help unload food as the Scouts, along with their leaders, arrive with the donations from their neighborhoods. To find out more about poverty in Utah and what you can do to help, visit www.utahfoodbank.org.